By Martin Macdonald

Diego Simeone's men extended the distance between themselves and arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table, while Mauricio Pellegrino's side are defeated at La Rosaleda

REAL SOCIEDAD 0-0 OSASUNA

Real Sociedad failed to continue their recent winning run as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Osasuna in the Spanish Primera Division on Friday evening.

The hosts were coming off two impressive victories against Malaga and Rayo in recent weeks, but they were unable to source the same form in this match. The first half was a non-event with only Antoine Griezmann and Nano having a couple of speculative efforts at goal.

The second period improved slightly, with Carlos Vela in particular looking the most likely player to break the deadlock. However, Sociedad had to settle for a point and will thank goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for helping them share the points as he pulled off two excellent saves in the closing minutes from Roland Lamah and David Timor.

RAYO 2-0 MALLORCA

A late rally from Rayo Vallecano saw the hosts run out eventual 2-0 winners over Mallorca at Estadio Teresa Rivero.

It was a dire match in truth, with neither side looking a particular threat for the majority of the match. The opening goal eventually came three minutes from time when Leo Baptistao drove a fantastic strike into the bottom corner from 30 yards.

Any possibility of a Mallorca comeback was shredded in the last minute of play when Leo turned provider to set-up Andrija Delibasic inside the area, and the 31-year-old slotted home to confirm the win for the hosts.

REAL VALLADOLID 1-0 GRANADA

Real Valladolid extended their unbeaten run at home in La Liga to six with a narrow 1-0 win over Granada at Nuevo Jose Zorilla Stadium.

The sides sparred in the first half with both teams having decent opportunities to go ahead. However, Valladolid striker Manucho thought he had found the net in the first period with an audacious over-head kick, but he failed to keep his effort under the bar.

The solitary goal of the match came just after the hour mark, when the former Manchester United man latched on to a superb pass from Oscar Gonzalez and fired home into the bottom corner.

MALAGA 4-0 VALENCIA

Malaga recorded their first win in five Spanish Primera Division matches on Saturday with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Valencia at La Rosaleda.

Los Boquerones got off to a great start and registered a goal just eight minutes in when Francisco Portillo swept home Eliseu’s cutback.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men had to wait a long time to score their second, but it came 15 minutes from full-time when Javier Saviola showed composure inside the area to fire past Diego Alves. A third was added seven minutes later when Roque Santa Cruz found himself in the right place at the right time to collect Jesus Gamez’s deflected cross and slot home.

Things would go from bad to worse for Valencia in the closing stages of the match. Adil Rami was sent off for arguing with the referee and Isco completed the rout for Malaga in the last minute with a clinical strike from 10 yards.

ESPANYOL 0-2 GETAFE

Espanyol suffered yet another Primera Division loss on Sunday as they were comfortably defeated 2-0 by Getafe.

Abdel Barrada and Angel Lafita both saw strikes flash wide of goal in the opening stages but the visitors did eventually take the lead with their first shot on target. Pedro Leon found space and lashed a left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner.

Neither side threatened too much as the match progressed, but the victory was sealed for Getafe in the last minute when Mane received a pass Diego Castro and found the bottom left corner with a well-placed shot.

ATHLETIC 1-1 DEPORTIVO

Deportivo La Coruna moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.

Fernando Llorente, making his first league start of the season, came extremely close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute with a bullet header towards goal. It looked destined for the net but the attempt struck the Depor crossbar.

However, they did not have to wait too long to record a goal as the home side netted just five minutes later. Markel Susaeta’s cross from the right-hand side was expertly tucked home by Oscar de Marcos.

The visitors came quickly out the blocks, and managed to snatch an equaliser seven minutes after the break when Juan Carlos Valeron’s cross was squeezed in at the front post by Abel Aguilar to earn a vital point.

ATLETICO 4-0 SEVILLA

Atletico Madrid made in 10 straight La Liga wins at Vicente Calderon with a 4-0 hammering over nine-man Sevilla on Sunday night.

It was a scrappy opening, but the match was turned on its head 20 minutes in when Federico Fazio was sent off for a professional foul on Koke inside the box. Radamel Falcao dispatched the penalty to earn his 14th goal of the season.

A miserable half for Sevilla was made worse in a five minute period before the break. Emir Spahic turned the ball into his own net and Koke smashed home from the edge of the area to make it 3-0 to Diego Simeone’s men.

Los Rojiblancos’ task was made impossible in the second half when Ivan Rakitic was also given his marching orders after a late challenge on Tiago, earning his second booking. Miranda heaped further misery on Sevilla with a close-range strike in the last minute.

ZARAGOZA 0-1 CELTA

A solitary goal in the closing stages from Iago Aspas gave Celta Vigo there first away win of the season against Zaragoza at La Romareda on Monday evening.

Helder Postiga looked the man most likely to make something happen for the home side, and tested Javi Varas with a couple of well-struck shots inside the area in the first period.

However, Celta grew into the match as the game progressed, and Aspas almost found the net in the 70th minute when he shot from the edge of the area, only to see his strike palmed away by goalkeeper, Roberto.

He was not be denied much longer, though, and found the vital goal 13 minutes later when he latched on to Roberto Lago’s pass inside to slot home, lifting his side out of the relegation zone.